The body is designed to move. Yet, with increased urbanisation and the advent of technology, we are leading more sedentary lifestyles than we were 50 years ago – and it shows.
We have stopped moving. Instead of being out in the fields harvesting crops or hunting for food, we sit. We sit in the car, at the office and at home. And our smart bodies have adapted: rounded shoulders, slumped posture, forward head and rounded back are all too common.
Progress comes at a cost, and the truth is bitter with some studies calling sitting the new smoking, linking it to increased rates of cardiovascular diseases and physical pain, especially lower-back pain.
The numbers speak for themselves – 80 per cent of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives, and back injuries are the number-one cause of work-related disability, according to the United States-based National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Dr Sebouh Z Kassis, specialist neurosurgeon at Burjeel Hospital for Advanced Surgery in Dubai, says that while back pain and spinal diseases are mainly determined by genetic factors and ageing, lifestyle also plays a significant role. “Scientific evidence supports the role of sedentary lifestyle in the onset of musculoskeletal disorders in general and back pain in particular. Many clinical studies found a direct link between long [periods of] sitting, obesity and back pain,” he explains.
The good news is that we are not doomed to living with back pain. The solution to restoring health to our bodies is simple, but it requires a shift in lifestyle. Excessive sitting restricts blood flow, hinders the elasticity of the connective tissues in the back and places three times more pressure on the lower back than standing.
Dr Rashid Buhari, head of physiotherapy and rehabilitation at Healthpoint hospital in Abu Dhabi, recommends getting up and moving. “Break up long periods in front of the computer with stretching exercises and be sure to work at an ergonomically correct workstation. If you practise good posture, you will maintain the natural curves of your back and help keep it strong,” says Buhari. “If you aren’t in good shape, you are more likely to hurt your back from simple movements, such as lifting your child from the cot.”
Activities such as yoga, meditation and deep breathing can also positively impact back health by reducing stress levels and giving overactive minds a break.
Steward Howison, who has been dealing with back pain on and off for the past 10 years, credits being more conscious of his posture and adopting healthier habits with breaking the pain cycle.
“Stress and tension are the main causes for my back and neck pain. But I’ve learnt to watch my posture, and I follow a regular maintenance programme to keep my tissues healthy. I cycle often, do self-myofascial release to relax, and consult a craniosacral therapist,” he says. “Now, I don’t reach for the medicine cabinet as often, I schedule fewer visits to the doctor’s and, most importantly, I have learnt to pay attention and recognise early warning signs.”
Your sleeping arrangements also have a bearing on your well-being; after all, it’s where we spend eight hours or more of our time each night. “The best position for sleeping is on your side. If you prefer sleeping on your stomach, place a pillow under your lower abdomen. The foetal position can also help open up the joints and spine, and relieve pressure,” Buhari says, before highlighting the importance of choosing the right pillows and mattress. “I recommend a semi-firm mattress for a pain-free sleep.”
There is no magic bullet against back pain. The key word is prevention, through proper exercise, healthy habits that should last a lifetime and a dose of common sense. Being informed and educated about your body is also important, like understanding basic anatomy and correct posture, developing body awareness and appreciating the objectives of performing certain exercises.
But above all else, remain positive and stand up for yourself. The power of the mind is an underestimated tool against physical and emotional aches.
Life doesn’t have to be a pain in the back.
Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23
Dragons
Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3
Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
The%20specs
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Ferrari
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Japan
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Canada
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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The%20specs
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
ENGLAND TEAM
Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (captain), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills